FROM THIS EPISODE

Controversy over Trayvon Martin and racial profiling reached the White House today. We hear what the President said and update developments in a case that has gripped the nation's attention. Also, President Obama picks surprise nominee
Jim Yong Kim for the World Bank, and casualties and near casualties on the way to the Final Four.

Banner image: Protesters hold cans of ice tea and Skittles which is what Trayvon Martin is reported to have been carrying when he was killed on February 26 in Sanford, Florida, on March 21, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

President Obama stunned the International financial community today by appointing Dartmouth College President Jim Yong Kim to lead the World Bank, even though he has no banking experience. One consequence of today's announcement is that economist Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia's Earth Institute dropped his bid and supported Kim "one hundred percent." Sudeep Reddy reports on economics for the Wall Street Journal.

It's taken almost a month for the shooting death of 17-year-old, African American Trayvon Martin to become a national issue. After Florida prosecutors declined to prosecute Neighborhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman, the story began to go viral on the Internet. It made the mainstream media — producing a demonstration this week in New York City and a rally last night in Sanford, Florida. Today President Obama weighed in, stressing that "all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves, and we are going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened." We hear about America's expanding gun culture, "stand your ground" laws and the "rules" that black parents teach their sons about how to deal with authorities.

March Madness is down to the "Sweet 16" and there's already been a major casualty. In what's being called the best game of the NCAA tournament so far, Wisconsin almost defeated top seed Syracuse in the Eastern bracket. In the West, the number one pick did go down to defeat, and there's more to come. Joe Sullivan is sports editor of the Boston Globe.